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500 BCE
First nations begin to settle in Canada
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1000
1000 - Viking Leif Ericson reaches the coastline of Newfoundland.
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1497
1497 - Italian explorer John Cabot visits Newfoundland.
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1534
1534 - French explorer Jacques Cartier maps the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence River. He claims the region for France.
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The French establish the fur trade in Canada.
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- A fur trade monopoly was granted to Pierre de Monts.
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Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City which becomes the capital of New France.
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Samuel de Champlain discovers Lake Champlain.
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The city of Montreal is founded.
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The Hudson's Bay Company is established.
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King William's War is fought between New France and New England.
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The British gain control of much of Eastern Canada under the Treaty of Utrecht.
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The British expel the Acadians from their lands.
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The French lose the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years' War) to the British. The British gain control of all the French lands in Canada as a result.
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The invasion of the Continental Army of America is stopped at the Battle of Quebec.
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The Treaty of Paris establishes official borders between the United States and Canada.
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The colony of New Brunswick is established.
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Quebec is divided into Upper Canada (today's Ontario) and Lower Canada (today's Quebec).
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The War of 1812 occurs between the British and the United States. American forces attempt to invade Canada.
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The 49th parallel is determined as the border between much of the U.S. and Canada
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Rebellions occur throughout Canada against the British governmen
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The Durham Report is issued which recommends that Upper and Lower Canada be united.
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Upper and Lower Canada were merged into a single colony by the Act of Union.
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The border between the United States and Canada in the west is decided by the Oregon Treaty.
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The Dominion of Canada is formed. It includes four provinces including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario.
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The province of Manitoba joins Canada.
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British Columbia becomes the sixth province of Canada.
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The North-West Mounted Police are established. They will become the Canadian Mounted Police.
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Gold is discovered in the Yukon. The Klondike Gold Rush occurs as thousands of prospectors move to Canada to find gold.
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Saskatchewan and Alberta become provinces.
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- World War I begins. Canada fights on the side of the Allies.
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Canadian fighter pilot Roy Brown shoots down the famous German pilot the Red Baron.
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Canada joins the League of Nations.
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The first insulin shot for diabetes is given in Toronto. It is developed by Canadian scientists Dr. Frederick Banting and J.J.R. Macleod.
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Unemployment from the Great Depression hits 27%.
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World War II begins. Canada fights on the side of the Allies. Over 1 million Canadians serve the armed forces during the war.
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Women gain the right to vote in Quebec.
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- Canada joins NATO
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The British occupy Quebec City in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
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The opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway allowing ships access to the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean.
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Canada adopts the current flag with the red maple leaf.
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Pierre Trudeau is first elected as prime minister
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The Canada Act is passed by the British Parliament giving all remaining legal powers to Canada. A new constitution is adopted.
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A free trade agreement is established with the United States.
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Quebec narrowly rejects independence.
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Canada decides not to join in the war in Iraq.
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Canada withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol for reducing greenhouse gasses.